the same share of people were participating in the workforce, today or on the day the president got elected, the unemployment rate would be around 11%. that is the real reality of what is happening out there. >> mitt romney is on the campaign trail tonight in florida. so how are the new job numbers impacting the race for the white house? jack burkman and democratic strategist gary nordlinger from george washington school join us. thank you for being here. >> good afternoon. >> the fact that the unemployment rate fell below 8% the first time since the president took office should give them a boost. is it enough to help erase the lackluster performance in the debate? >> i don't know if it's enough to equal out the debate. the point is that it's good news for them and for the first time since january of 2009, unemployment dropped below 8% and that is great and upexpected news for the president. >> mitt romney called this insignificant. do you think that is a fair assessment of this or is this politics? >> reporter: the president's not responsible for the unemployment rate. what he's responsibl